My Greatest Fear

"But there is only one thing that has power completely, and that is love. Because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power. I see only one hope for our country, and that is when white men and black men, desiring neither power nor money, but desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it...I have one great fear in my heart, that one day when they are turned to loving, they will find we are turned to hating."

A few years ago in South Africa some murders and the Government told the people that they would help the people and stop the murderers, but it never happened. In response to this many South Africans became angry and started acting violently. So angry that they started to burn down Government Leaders homes. Other innocent people have been getting injured because of these raids. When things started to calm down the people responsible decided to, instead of violence, have a peace walk to protest the murders.

This shows the effect of fear because if people are going around burning houses and harming people it is really scary. So the government officials are more inclined to do what they ask for their safety and for the safety of their families. But it shows the unifying power of love. Because a peace walk can bring people from all over together to try to make a difference and people will make a difference through love and not fear.

"Call and dance, call and dance. Now, while you may."

"Call and dance, Innocence, call and dance while you may. For this is a prelude, it is only a beginning. Strange things will be woven into it, by men you have never heard of, in places you have never seen. It is life you are going into, you are not afraid because you do not know. Call and dance, call and dance. Now, while you may."

This quote, to me, is explaining how we need to enjoy our innocence and youth while we still can. "Call and dance" reminds me of a child whose perfectly content in their own little world dancing and yelling their own song. Innocence only last for a few short years. By the time most children are 8 they've already been introduced to "the really world". Innocence is something that i think we should all hold on to. Its something that can we use to get away from the real world at some points when we really need it. I think the experience of growing up is a controversial one. Some people can't wait till they grow up and can be on their own, experiencing "grown up" things, but others dread the day when they actually have to leave their childhood stage and move on to bigger things.

In the book it says that the country can no longer hold the people. The young men and woman leave. But when they are young and innocent they would never think of leaving. When they call and dance all they care about it having fun, they aren't worried about the future. But as they get older they start to learn things they have never heard of before, and some of it is frightening, and I am sure there is a time when they wish they could go back to calling and dancing.

Importance of Land

"It said the land would be buried under millions of tons of mine waste that would render it sterile and totally unusable for agriculture, grazing or any other purpose... They said it would make it impossible forever for them to reclaim their ancestral lands and provide for the subsistence of their families from the land."

This is an article off of iol.com that is talking about a small town in south Africa whose lands and rivers are being destroyed by a local mine. This has to do with importance of the land. The native people of these lands are trying to preserve it so that it will keep providing for them but the mining companies are making that hard. These natives know that if their land is ruined and not treated well, it will be useless to them and they will have to uproot themselves and their families to land that has not been ruined so it can provide for them. It relates to the very first chapter in the book because it is talking about how the people overused the land and it won't provide for them anymore and that is what is happening to these people.

Political Cartoon

This political cartoon portrays how blacks were mistreated even after they gained their freedom. Even with their freedom whites were still seen as superior and blacks were withheld from many rights. Blacks got poorer education, jobs, homes and treatment. This shows the cycle of inequality because even as things supposedly got "better" they really didn't change.

"Sun City" by Artists United Against Apartheid

Sun City
Artists Against Apartheid

We're rockers and rappers united and strong
We're here to talk about South Africa we don't like what's going on
It's time for some justice it's time for the truth
We've realized there's only one thing we can do

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families I can't understand
23 million can't vote because they're black
We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Our government tells us we're doing all we can
Constructive Engagement is Ronald Reagan's plan
Meanwhile people are dying and giving up hope
This quiet diplomacy ain't nothing but a joke

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Boputhuswana is far away
But we know it's in South Africa no matter what they say
You can't buy me I don't care what you pay
Don't ask me Sun City because I ain't gonna play

I ain't gonna play Sun City

It's time to accept our responsibility
Freedom is a privilege nobody rides for free
Look around the world baby it can't be denied
Why are we always on the wrong side

I ain't gonna play Sun City

Relocation to phony homelands
Separation of families I can't understand
23 million can't vote because they're black
We're stabbing our brothers and sisters in the back